Highlights
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest
- A boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, with hippos, elephants and birds
- A gorilla trek in Bwindi, with a US$800 permit that's half the price of Rwanda's
- A scenic flight from the forest back to Entebbe that skips a very long drive
Day by day
Day 1: Arrive in Entebbe
You’re met at the airport and transferred to a hotel by Lake Victoria. Entebbe is a peaceful place to start. If you land early, visit the Botanical Gardens or the wildlife education centre, which houses rescued animals.
Day 2: Entebbe to Kibale
The drive to Kibale takes about five to six hours through Fort Portal. Stop for lunch on the way. Arrive at your lodge by late afternoon, with time for a short walk in the surrounding forest or a tea estate.
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking
Attend the morning briefing at the park office, then head into the forest with a ranger guide. Kibale is home to a large chimp population as well as other primates, including red colobus and black-and-white colobus. You spend an hour with the chimps when you find them, watching them feed, groom and call. In the afternoon, walk the Bigodi Wetland for birds and monkeys.
Day 4: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth
Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, about two to three hours. After lunch, take a boat on the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway that links Lake George and Lake Edward. You’ll see large groups of hippos, buffalo and elephants, plus fish eagles and other water birds.
Day 5: Ishasha and Bwindi
Set off early and drive through the Ishasha sector, where lions sometimes climb fig trees to rest. Then continue to Bwindi for the evening. The road is scenic but winding, and the drive takes a total of about four to five hours with stops.
Day 6: Gorilla trek
Meet your guide at the trailhead for the briefing. Trekkers hike into the forest with trackers, and the time it takes depends on where the family moved overnight. The encounter lasts up to an hour. Take a porter if you can: it helps the community and makes the climb easier. Return to your lodge for a hot shower and rest.
Day 7: Fly to Entebbe and depart
Transfer to a nearby airstrip, such as Kihihi, and fly to Entebbe, about an hour and a half. Connect to your onward flight in the afternoon or evening. Scheduled and charter flights can change, so leave a generous buffer. If you’d prefer the road, add at least a day.
What’s included and what isn’t
Included: accommodation, meals, permits, park fees, a 4x4 with driver-guide, boat cruise and the domestic flight. Excluded: international flights, visas, tips, insurance and personal expenses. As of September 2026, an e-visa for Uganda costs about US$50 for most nationalities, and Uganda has strictly enforced its yellow fever certificate rule, so carry your vaccination card.
Making it yours
To add Rwanda’s volcanoes, see the 10-day circuit. For bigger wildlife, add Murchison Falls in the north, which needs at least two extra days. Our gorilla trekking guide explains permits, fitness and what to bring.
Parks on this route
Kibale National Park
The world's best-known place to see wild chimpanzees, with 12 other primate species in the same forest.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Uganda's most varied park: a boat trip among hippos, tree-climbing lions in Ishasha and chimps in a gorge.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Home to nearly half the world's mountain gorillas, in ancient forest on steep green hills.
Request this trip
Pricing: Quoted per person or group. Permits are a large part of the cost: US$800 for gorillas (US$600 in April, May and November) and about US$250 to US$300 for chimps as of September 2026. Expect roughly US$3,800 to US$6,500 per person on the ground, including the flight.
Questions about this trip
Is a week enough for Uganda?
It's tight but works if you choose three highlights and accept some long drives. The flight from Bwindi to Entebbe saves about ten hours on the last day. If you'd like more time to relax between hikes, add a day at Queen Elizabeth or Bwindi.
Can I do gorillas before chimps?
Yes, the route can be reversed by flying from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro at the start and driving north to Kibale. Reversing it is also a good option if you'd like the hardest trek early in the trip. Ask your operator which order works best for your dates.
What if I get a low-season permit?
Low-season permits in April, May and November are cheaper but usually non-refundable and can't be rescheduled. That makes flight timing important, so book carefully and consider travel insurance that covers permits.
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Last updated 20 September 2026. Itineraries are starting points. Routes, lodges and prices are adjusted to your dates, group size and budget. Rift & Reef quotes are valid for the dates stated on the quote.